TOPICS OF THE DAY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 4595, 25 February 1902, Page 4

TOPICS OF THE DAY.

. CITY WATER SUPPLY. Tho report of Messrs luestayer and Ferguson, adopted by ihc City. Council last night, is based on the City Engineer’s report of the 10th July, 1901, which in the main it agrees with. Tho consulting engineers, however, are nob in favour of the immediate construction of an additional dam at Karori, and the Council has, by a majority of ten votes to three, concurred m their view., in brief, tho recommendations of the consulting engineers may be summarised as follows(1) That water regulations should be approved of by tho City Council and rigorously enforced; (2) that tho catchment area of tho Karori stream should be acquired without delay by the Council, and cleansed and preserved from contamination; (.3 and 4) that air additional dam bo constructed at Karori in the future, making a total provision, there for impounding not less than 100,000,000 gallons, to bo devoted to tho service of high level districts on the north and west sides of tho city; (5) that the Council at once take steps to prevent tho serious waste of water which is at present undoubtedly taking place; (6) that meters bo used in connection witli the supply of water to hotels and gardens ; (7) that the dam at Wainui proposed by the City Engineer ho raised two foot higher and strengthened proportionately ; and (8) that a new main, be laid from Wainui to, and into, tho heart of Wellington, and the reticulation from this now main arranged in such a manner as to ensure that tho pressure of water will be conserved for the use of tho South Wellington districts and of tho greater part of tho high level districts of tho city. Tho Council has now referred tho whole matter of the water supply as it at present stands, to its Finance Committee, which is to report as to tho action necessary to bo taken to give effect to Messrs Mestayer and Ferguson’s recommendations.

CORK EXHIBITION OF 1902. On Ist May next, an international ex-, hibition is to be opened at Cork by King Edward VII. This will bo tho third exhibition of the kind that has taken place in the “Fayro Cite,” and will far surpass in interest and magnitude its predecessors. Every exhibition of industries, it has been well said, helps forward tho work of obliterating the differences of mankind, and binding them together in the natural chain or common necessities and interest. A show like this not only attracts " its thousands of ordinary sightseers from all parts of tho country in which it is situated, but like a magnet, it draws the intelligent and curious from distant countries, and the conversation of these persons when they return to their own people is a fountain of knowledge, and creates tho desire for more. The exhibition will bo located in the valley of the Lee, in charming grounds, and but five minutes distant from the heart of the city. The Industrial Hall, tho principal structure, will cover an area of no less than 117,000 square feet, whilst the building devoted to machinery in motion is to bo almost as largo. In the grounds on the south side of the Lee, there will bo a model Irish village, a round tower surrounded by a camera obscura, lacd workers’ cottages, a model farm, etc., etc., while in another quarter will bo erected a, concert hall 105 ft in length, capable of holding 3000 persons, and containing a fine organ. Elsewhere will be found tea houses and separate shows, including a water chute (specially constructed by an Irish firm), a switchback and miniature railways, etc. In the adjacent grounds on the other side’ ( of • "Ferrywalk, and reached by an overhead bridge, there will be erected an art gallery and various other buildings, whilst beyond these, a large space of ground has been marked out for football, cricket, cycle matches, and other athletic sports. It can hardly be doubted that Cork will offer, through the approaching season, a scene of varied interest to those, who visit it. Great preparations are being made by the hotelkeepers, who count upon a tremendous harvest. A Glasgow firm is building an hotel near tho exhibition, which will accommodate 800 visitors, and all the ci(y hotels have arranged for their overflow by acquiring private houses. Doubtless many hundreds of superannuated jaunting cars will be drawn forth from tho dark recesses to which they have been consigned and furbished up for the coming summer. Fortunately, Cork possesses a splendid system of electrical tramcars, and there is a line passing by the gates of the exhibition. Australian and Now Zealand visitors going Home for the Coronation festivities will, many of them no doubt, visit tho Cork Exhibition, and have memories recalled of “The bells of Shandon, that sound so grand on The iffeasant waters of the River Lee.”